1985 Pontiac TransAm 5.0 V8 TPi

This is officially the most amusing daily-driver I've ever had The previous statement isn't really true any more - see the Celica GT-Four! That said, it had the most glorious exhaust sound of any car I've had...

It was actually extremely civilised for a Yank Tank and when you got used to that left-hand-drive driving in the hedge feeling, really comfy too.

Of course with a car that size and an engine that torquey driven by something closely resembling pram wheels at the rear, it's inevitable that it was quite easy to drive sideways. It was generally very controllable, though, as I had much firmer springs and dampers than were usually specified and hence a bit of a prod when you were coming off a roundabout and the rear wheels would light up a treat :-)

That said, for the two years I drove the thing I replaced the front tyres once and the rears three times! They were a hundred quid a corner, too...

Overall, not bad for £2100!

Specs

• 305CuIn (5.0-litre) V8
• Tuned port fuel injection (not to be confused with the inferior Throttle Body injection (TBi) variants)
• TH-700R4 4-speed auto with lock-up on 2nd, 3rd and 4th
• UK Legal lighting conversion (headlights, tail lights: done properly!)
• Cruise control
• Electric windows
• Remote central locking
• Power adjustable driver's seat
• T-Top roof
• Non-catalyst straight-through exhaust - great sound :-)
• Power steering
• Air conditioning
• Front ventilated discs, rear drums
• Alarm and engine immobiliser